Super Short Summary

The Japanese Lover by Isabel Allende follows the intertwining lives of Alma Belasco, a Polish immigrant, and Ichimei Fukuda, a Japanese American, who develop a forbidden love during WWII, exploring themes of love, loss, and resilience. Decades later, Irina Bazili, a caregiver at Alma's retirement home, delves into Alma's past, uncovering deep secrets and a lifelong romance that withstands time and societal barriers. The novel contains depictions or discussions of racism, anti-gay bias, sexual assault, child abuse, child sexual abuse, warfare, suicide, medical aid in dying, genocide, and alcohol abuse.